Variable speed electrical drive



'April 4,1944. e. H. GIBSON VARIABLE SPEED ELECTRICAL DRIVE Filed June 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 g2 w/m all s i j. a Ql/J r In 4 w m 52 2 flm a 0 0 n n m m m 5 m m m a Q *7 X m 3% w W I M 6 ix 5 m w r m .9 #7 6 g m n r 6 L 0 (JR/I, m W :1 v 55% W 6 MM v BY 67 ATTORNEY v April 4, 1944. GIBSQN 2,345,805

VARIABLE SPEED ELECTRICAL DRIVE Filed June 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGE 1 6/550 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4,1944

VARIABLE SPEED ELECTRICAL DRIVE George H. Gibson, Montclair, N. 1.; Anna Gibson and George Gibson, executors of said George H. Gibson, deceased Application June 12, 1942, Serial No. 446,756

Claims. (Cl. 172-239) The general object of the present invention is to provide a variable speed electrical drive or transmission, of novel and desirable type. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide an electrical drive or transmission comprising two dynamo-electric machines, one of which normally functions as a D. C. generator and the other as a D. C. motor, and each of which comprise relatively rotatable armature and field elements, with one element of each machine carried by and turning with the driven shaft, and characterized by the arrangement of the two machines so that in a normal operating condition, the electro-magnetic interactions between the armature and field elements of the two machines will subject the driven shaft to turning torque in the same direction.

In one form of the present invention, the field element of the generator is stationary, but i energized by multi-phase currents to create a rotating magnetic field acting on the armature oi the generator, and in this case the commutator engaging brushes of the generator may be rotated in synchronism with the rotating held by a synchronized alternating current motor.

The generator machine may supply direct cur= rent, through its commutator and brushes, to brushes and a commutator connected to the armature winding of the motor which may have its field stationary and energized by direct current. in principle, however, the present invert-=- tion is reversible in the sense that it may be ar ranged to operate with either armature or either field element secured to and rotating with the driven shaft. Moreover, in lieu of providing the generator with a commutator and brushes, 1 may use a mercury arc rectifier to supply to the motor brushes unidirectional current generated in ormature windings bi the generator.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an arrangement in which the variable speed electric drive provisions may be used to obtain rotation in synchronism with the rotating iield.

Another specific object of the invention is to use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 i a diagrammatic representation of a preferred form of the present invention;

Fig. ,2 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another modification; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification in which the motor armature is supplied with current through a mercury arc rectiher.

In the form or" the invention illustrated by way of example in l, the generator field element BB is a stationary structure provided with a multi-phase winding, so as to create a revolving magnetic held, and its brushes e and e and slip rings F and F, are carried by an element 0 jour-.

' nailed on the shaft C, so that it may rotate at an angular velocity which is the same as the angular velocity of the magnetic field created by the field element BB. lhe generator has its armature is secured to the driven shaft C. The latter also has secured to it the armature d of a direct current motor having a stationary field element D.

The commutator brushes e and e engaging commutator E oi the generator, are mechanical ly supported by the rotating element 0 and r0 tated in synchronism with the rotating field of the generator, as hereinafter described. As shown, the brush e is connected by a terminal e to a slip ring and the brush e is connected by a terminal 6 to a slip ring F. The two slip rings are arranged side by side and aresuitably insulated from the rotating element 0. The brushes f and ,i' engaging the slip rings F and F, respectively, pass the current generated by the generator to the commutator brushes 9 and g engaging the commutator G of the motor armaprovide suitable control means for avoiding cernected to the motor brush- 9 by a conductor 9. The generator slip ring brush is connected, in the normal operating condition shown in Fig. 1; to the motor brush g, through a circuit branch including a conductor in, the contact K of a controller K, a portion of the resistance K of the controller K, the winding K of the latter, one terminal of the switch H, one blade of the latter, and a conductor H which is connected to the brush a.

In the operating condition in which the switch H occupies the position shown in Fig. l, the conductors 50 and supplied by the direct current generator T energize the field winding of the motor element D, and the current generated in the winding of the armature bis delivered to the winding of the motor armature d. In consequence of their electro-magnetic interaction, the generator armature b is subjected to a torque tending to rotate the driven shaft C in the direction of rotation of the magnetic field of generator BB. The connections between generator and motor brushes are such that the direction of current fiow through the winding of the motor armature d results in an electro-magnetic interaction between the motor field D and armature d, which also subjects the driven shaft C to a torque in the same direction in which the generator tends to turn the driven shaft. With the motor and the generator each subjecting the driven shaft to a turning torque in the direction in which that shaft rotates, the magnitude of the current flow through the motor armature winding needs to be but a fraction of'what it would need to be if the motor supplied all of the power used in rotating the shaft C. With half of the required torque furnished by the generator, the current flow through the motor armature winding need be only half that which would be required with the same field excitation if the motor furnished the entire driving torque.

The effective torque impressed on the driven shaft by each of the dynamoelectrlc machines is a function of the armature current and a function of the excitation of the field winding of the machine D and of the polyphase current flowing through the windings of BB. The strength of the current flowing through the two armatures is proportional to the difference between the voltage induced in the winding of generator armature b and the counter-electromotive force induced in the winding of the motor armature d. The generator voltage induced is directly proportional to the difference between the angular speeds of the rotating field in BB and of armature b, and to the strength of the magnetic fiux created by the rotating field. The counter-elem tromotive force generated in the winding of the armature dis directly proportional to the strength of the motor field and to the speed of rotation of the armature d. In consequence, it is generally desirable to increase the exciting current supplied to the generator field element and to motor afield element as the speed of the driven shaft C increases.

The controller device K serves as an automatic safety device operating automatically to prevent the armature current from becoming large enough to burn out either armature. As the armature current increases, the armature K of the device K is drawn further upinto the coil K thus raising contact K and increasing the amount of'resistance K in series with the two armature windings. Conversely, the armature K moves down and decreases the resistance K in circuit as the armature current diminishes.

When the conditions are such as to make it desirable that the driven shaft should have the same angular velocity as the driving shaft, this losses minimized by interrupting the current fiow through the armature and field windings of the motor elements D and d, and by supplying an exciting current to the armature winding of the armature b, as well as polyphase current :to the field BB, so as to electrwmagnetically couple the result may be secured and the apparatus heat ductor 50 to the terminal conductor N5 of a brush m engaging a slip ring M carried by the shaft C.

Supply conductor 5| is connected to the terminal I! of a brush m bearing on a slip ring M' on the shaft alongside the ring M. The slip ring M is connected by a conductor l8 to the winding of the armature b. The 'slip ring M is connected by conductor l9 to the winding of the armature bat a point displaced one pole width from the point of the winding to which the conductor [8 is connected. The adjustment of the switch H into its left-hand dotted line position interrupts the energization of the field element D by disconnecting the conductor 50a from the supply conductor 50 and interrupts the energization of the armature b by disconnecting the conductors l0 and II through which current normally fiows from the brush 1" to the brush 9. The slips rings M and M' may be located at any convenient point along the length of the'shaft and in practice it will ordinarily be more convenient to locate them between the commutators E and G than in the positions shown.

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, alternating current of one phase is supplied by conductors 20 and 25, and alternating current of another phase is supplied by supply conductors 22 23, and has its secondary terminals connected to the terminals 32 and 33 of the field winding of the field element BB. As diagrammatically shown in Fig. l, the field winding terminals 30 and 32 are connected to contacts Q and (2*, respectively, carried by'an element Q adjustable to simultaneously vary the effective number of turns of the secondary windings of the transformers P and PA, and thereby vary the secondary voltages of the two transformers. The device Q may suitable speed conditions with the varying loads.

As those skilled in the art will understand, in lieu of the particular circuit connection shown in Fig. 1, use may be made of any one of the various known arrangements for supplying multi-phase currents.

As shown, the element 0 is gear-connected to, and rotated by, a synchronous alternating current motor .R, which advantageously is of selfstarting type and which has terminals 40 and Al connected to the supply conductors 20 and 2| and has terminals 42 and 43 connected to the supply conductors 22 and 23. 'As shown, a reversing switch S is providedfor interchanging the connection between the supply conductors 22 and 23 on one hand, and the primary terminals of the transformer PA and the synchronous motor terminals 42 and 43, on the other hand, so

by means of an exciting generator T driven by the synchronous motor R or, alternatively, through conductors I and 2 from a separate source of D. C. current, accordingly as the double pole, two throw switch V is in its full line, or in its dotted line, position. In its full line position, the switch V connects one terminal 50a of the field element D to one terminal 60 of a reversing switch W. 'In one position the switch W connects the conductor 60 to one armature terminal 6| of the eX-citer T, and the second terminal la of the field winding of the element D is then connected to the second armature terminal 62 of the exciter T, through circuit connections including a variable resistance 52, a cooperating contact Q carried by the previously described element Q, a conductor 53, one blade of the switch V, and a conductor 63 which is then connected through the switch W to the conductor 62. In this condition of the apparatus, the field of the exciter T has one terminal connected to the conductor 53 and thence, through connection previously described, to the exciter armature terminal 6|.

The reversing switch W may be connected to the previously mentioned switch S, so that when the direction of rotation of the field induced by the field element BB and the direction oi rotation of the motor R are reversed by actuation of the switch S, the switch will be operated to connect the exciter armature terminals Bi and 62 to the element terminals 5! and Fall, respectively. In consequence, when the adjustment of the switch S reverses the polarities of the exciter armature terminals 6i and 82, the simultaneous adjustment of the switch W prevents a change in the direction of current iiow through the field winding of the elementD. This is essential to the desired operation of the motor D, since the adjustment of the switch S reverses both the direction of rotation of the armature d and the direction of the current flow through the winding of that armature.

When the switch V is in its dotted line position shown in Fig. l, the terminal bit of the field element D is directly connected by the switch to the supply conductor i and, at the same time, the switch connects the supply conductor 2 to the field terminal am through the conductor 53, contact Q and resistance 52. When the switch V- is in its dotted line position, the held and armature windings of the exciter T are advantageously open-circuited, as may be effected with the arrangement shown, by opening the double pole switch X. With each of the described modes of energizing the element D, the adjustment of the member Q, which through contacts Q and Q varies the strength of the field or the generator element BB, through contact Q effects a reverse change in the strength of the field of the motor element D.

In lieu of making use of a separate motor R to rotate the structure carrying the brushes 2 and e and slip rings F and F, the element 0 in Fig. 1 may be replaced by an element 0A, as shown in Fig. 2, which omits the gear portion of the element 0 and includes a multi-polar field element 0 The latter has its field winding 0 energized by direct current which may be supplied through slip rings O carried by the element 0A and cooperating brushes. The field element 0 is so disposed, relative to the generator field element BB, that the rotating magnetic field produced by the latter will effect a synchronous rotation of the element 0A. Since the energy required to rotate the element 0A is minute, the emciency oi the magnetic interac-.

tion between the elements BB and 0A is unimportant.

Advantageously, the multipolar field element 0 0 should be provided with a squirrel cage or other short circuited winding 0", so that it may be self-starting, and may operate as an induction motor while its speed builds until it approaches synchronism with the speed of the rotating field created by the field element BB. Thereafter, the element 0 may readily be drawn into full synchronism with said rotating field by the excitation of its. main winding by current supplied by the brushes 2 and e, or some other suitable source of direct current. To facilitate the starting up operation, provisions including a control switch may be made for delaying the direct current excitation of the field winding 0 of the element 0*" until the speed of' the latter has been raised by its induction motor action approximately into synchronism with the angular speed of the rotating field created by the element BB. The winding 0 also serves to restrict any tendency to small periodical fluctuating variations in the angular speed of the member 0A relative to the angular speed of the rotating field created by the element BB.

The general operation of the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 will be apparent from the foregoing. With the armature b of Fig. l energized with direct current, as when the switch H is in its left-hand position, and with the field winding of the element D of Fig. i tie-energized, the field element BB and armature b will collectively form synchronous motor. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elements BB and h and the commutator, slip rings and brushes associated with the armature 27, form, in eifect, a simple rotary converter.

As previously indicated, any general type of embodiment of the present invention may have either its field element or its armature secured and rotating with the driven shaft. This characteristic of the invention is illustrated in 3, in which the armature and held elements or the generator shown in Fig. 2 are inverted in the sense the generator armature be of Fig. 3 is stationary, and the generator :deld element "553 is mounted on and turns with the driven shaft 2. The multiphase winding BC oi the field element BC has its terminals tit and 82 connected to corresponding slip rings 33 carried by the shaft i3 and respectively engaged brushes connected to multiphase current supply conductors 83,

and and is so disposed and energized as to create a magnetic field rotating, relative to the core of the element BC, about the axis of the latter in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the driven shaft 0.

The stationary generator armature be has winding be and a commutator EB. The latter is engaged by brushes ab and eb carried by a rotating element OB. The latter is generaiiy similar to the element 0A of Fig. 2, including main and auxiliary windings O and 0 through which the element OB is caused to rotate about the shaft 0 in synchronism with the rotation in space of the magnetic field set up by the winding BC, i. e, the velocity of the element 0B is thus equal to the difference between the velocity of rotation of said field relative to the core of the element BC, and the smaller velocity in the opposite direction of the driven shaft C.

The current generated in the armature winding be may be passed from the brushes eb and "eb' of the element 013 to slip rings F8 and FE carried by the element OB and engaged by brushes 1 and 1', respectively. The latter are shown as connected to the brushes G and G of a motor element D, which may be identical with that shown in Fig. 1. The element OB includes slip rings engaged by brushes supplying direct currentfor energizing the winding 0 of the element OB. r

In any of the above described forms of my invention I may replace the commutator and brushes associated with the generator armaturecurrent winding Y of a generator armature ele ment, which may be exactly like the element 1) of Fig. 1.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 the winding Y is of star type, and each of its terminals 93, 94 and 95 in conjunction with its common terminal 91, is adapted to supply alternating current displaced 120 in phase inadvance of one and behind the other of the two alternating currents supplied by the circuits including the other terminals of the winding Y. As shown, the common terminal 91 of the winding 98 is connected through a slip ring carried by the shaft C, a conductor 98, and the switch SA to the motor armature brush f. Advantageously, and as shown, the conductor 88 includes a manual or automatic current limiting resistance 99, and the rectifier Z is provided with a starting connection Hi0 which may be of customary form. a

1 The reversing switch SA is employed to reverse the connections between the motor and generator armature windings,when a reversal of the connections to the generator field element (not shown) makes the operation of said switch desirable.

The simple arrangementshown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 is adapted to supply to the arma-' ture brushes 1 and ,f' a pulsating unidirectional current induced in the generator armature winding. As those skilled in the art will understand, by increasing the number of separate alternating currents rectified and suitably displacing the phase of those currents, the current fiow through the motor armature winding may be as smooth as conditions may require.

While slip rings are required in the rectifier including modifications of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 3, such slip rings are not required when a mercury arc rectifier is used with such an arrangement as is shown in Fig. 3, in which the generator armature element does not rotate.

While in accordance with the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the invention set forth in the appended claims. For example, in lieu of automatically adjusting the amount of resistance 'K in circuit, as provided for in Fig. 1, such resistance adjustment may be made manually when condition make this desirable. some features of my invention may also be used with advantage without a corresponding use of other features. I This application is a continuation in part of 5 my prior application Serial No. 361,496, filed October 17, 1940.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An electrical drive mechanism comprising a driven shaft, an electric motor having a direct current armature element and a field element subjecting the motor armature to a magnetic field tending to induce rotation of the shaft in the desired direction, an electric current generator having an armature element and a field element including a field winding excited bymulti-phase currents and subjecting the generator armature to a rotating magnetic field revolving about the axis of and tending to propel said shaft in the direction of its desired rotation, said motor and generator each having one of its elements stationary and having its other element secured to said shaft, and means for passing unidirectional current induced in the generator armature through'the motor armature.

2. An electrical drive mechanism comprising a driven shaft, an electric motor and an electric current generator, each having a direct-current armature and a field element and each having one of its elements secured to said shaft, said generator field element having a multi-phase field winding adapted when energized to create a magnetic field rotating about the axis of said shaft :15 relative to the generator armature element, a

structure rotatable about the axis of the driven shaft, generator commutator brushes mounted on said structure and through which said generator supplies direct current to said motor armature, 40 and a synchronous motor adapted to rotate said structure with an angular velocity equal to the angular velocity of said field when said synchronous motor and winding are energized by currents of the same frequency.

3. An electrical drive mechanism as specified in claim 1, including a regulator responsive to and regulating the strength of the induced current flow.

electric current generator each having a directcurrent armature element and each having a field element, the motor field element being energized by current fiow in a direct-current winding and the generator field element being rent winding, said generator having one of its said elements secured to said shaft, means for causing the generator field to rotate about the axis of said shaft in a direction to induce the desired direction of rotation of the latter, said motor having one of its elements secured to said shaft and the other. of its elements stationary, mo-

thereby cause said shaft to rotate in synchronism with the generator field.

5. An electric drive mechanism comprising a driven shaft, an electric motor having a field element and cooperating direct current armature ele- 4. A driven shaft, anelectric motor and an' excited by current fiow in a D l/phase cur-' me t, an electric current generator having an arm ture element including a winding and a field element having a multiphase field winding adapted when energized to create a magnetic field rotating. about the axis of said shaft relatively to the generator armature element, said motor and generator each having one or its elements secured to said shaft, said motor field element comprising means for subjecting the motor armature to a magnetic field tending to induce rotation of the shaft in the desired direction when said armature is supplied with unidirectional current and said generator field element comprising means for subjecting said generator armature winding to a magnetic field revolving about the axis of said shaft in a direction to propel the shaft in the di- 

